Obama said the United States was committed to “investigating and bringing the perpetrators of these illegal actions to justice” and assured Erdogan of American cooperation with Turkish authorities.
Advertisement
Since an attempt to overthrow him failed in July, Erdogan has taken harsh tactics to consolidate power, worrying human rights advocates and United States officials alike.
Obama shrugged off that incident, too, acknowledging that disagreements over press access often arise with China but contending that they were not emblematic of the US-China relationship. Gulen denies involvement, and the U.S. is demanding evidence of his participation, but rejecting the request could worsen ties between the two countries. “It is indisputable that it would create a better deal for us than the status quo”, Obama said.
But beyond the Islamic State group and al-Qaida, the two powers have conflicting views about who fits in that category – as well as a deep and mutual distrust that the other party will hold up its end of the bargain. Even on that front, disagreements persist.
At one point, a White House official warned a Chinese counterpart against restricting access of pool reporters under the wing of Air Force One, noting that it was, after all, a United States plane. Other leaders arriving for the G20 here were greeted with a far grander welcome.
Obama’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping also veered into delicate territory, with a lengthy White House description detailing how Obama had pressed Xi to abide by an worldwide tribunal’s ruling against China over the South China Sea.
Putin and May also touched on such issues as counterterrorism, the Syria crisis, aviation safety and drug-trafficking, Russian Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said after the meeting.
But that bright spot aside, his trip to China has offered reminders that since Obama took office in 2009 – and especially since Xi emerged as a nationalist leader after taking office in 2012 – Sino-US relations have worsened.
“Given the gaps of trust that exist, that’s a tough negotiation”, Obama said at a news conference closing the Group of 20 summit. At the same time, Obama cautioned against inflating the incident. “And so I wouldn’t over-crank the significance of it”.
Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday that negotiations have stalled between the United States and Russia to stop fighting in Syria between Russian-backed government troops and US -supported rebels. Kerry and Lavrov are said to be considering one more attempt to find common ground on Monday, but little hope accompanies that scenario.
Russian Federation says it can not agree to a deal unless opposition fighters, backed by the United States and Middle East allies, are separated from al Qaeda-linked militants they overlap with in some areas.
The State Department has said it wants nationwide ceasefire between Syrian President Bashar Assad’s military and the rebels, rather than another limited “cessation of hostilities” that has repeatedly failed in the past.
Many observers have said that Brexit could play into Putin’s hands as he has been accused of trying to drive a wedge between European Union members. “To the extent that there are children and women and innocent civilians who can get food and medical supplies and get some relief from the constant terror of bombings, that’s worth the effort”. Obama and other US officials would like to see Russian Federation focus on what Obama referred to as “common enemies”, naming the Islamic State militants and the Nusra Front, an al Qaeda affiliate. It has since evolved into a complex proxy war, with Assad getting support from Russian Federation and Iran, while the U.S., Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf states back those who seek to oust him.
Earlier truces in Syria have rapidly deteriorated, and Obama warned Sunday that the USA was approaching the talks “with some scepticism”.
Noting that the two countries should strengthen all-round strategic cooperation, Xi urged China and Russian Federation to push forward the alignment of their development strategies, as well as to dovetail the Belt and Road Initiative with the Eurasian Economic Union, Xinhua news agency reported.
“The bilateral discussions that we had yesterday were extremely productive and continue to point to big areas of cooperation”.
“You have the Assad regime which has been killing its own citizens with impunity, supported by the Russians and the Iranians”, Obama said on Sunday.
May insisted during a joint appearance with Obama that exit negotiations would move forward.
Advertisement
“Brexit does indeed mean Brexit”, May said.
